Pile elevator



Oct. 6, 1953 c. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,654,603

' PILE ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTORNEYOct. 6, 1953 Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS o6 MAM 6041aCZ. 6m

ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 c. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,654,603

FILE ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953c. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,654,603

FILE ELEVATOR I Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet e 1 III 284- vINVENTORS n 2 V Di $./Mm

2 BY Woman/n54 l e/Zn a 64.64%

ATTO-RNEY 1953 c. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,654,603

FILE ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS 4 7 06;! 5.ll/jlla'a/nua BY Wow/mm #4 W ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE PILE ELEVATOR tion of New York Application October12, 1946, Serial No. 703,006

28 Claims.

This invention relates generally to sheet feeding apparatus and moreparticularly to sheet feeders of the type wherein the sheets are fed oneafter another from the top of an elevated pile thereof.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel methodof maintaining a continuous supply of sheets in a sheet feeder of thepile elevator type to enable the latter to feed sheets at high speedcontinuously in succession to the machine being fed without interruptionfor reloading purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sheet feeder of thepile type a novel method of replenishing a pile of sheets thereonvertically from below while the sheets are being fed one after anotherat high speed from the top of the pile.

Another object is to provide in a sheet feeder of the pile type novelapparatus for automatically maintaining a continuous supply of sheetsthereon.

Another object is to provide novel cooperating automatically controlledmain and. auxiliary pile elevators for maintaining a continuous supplyof sheets on a sheet feeder.

A further object is to provide in a sheet feeder main and auxiliary pileelevators of novel construction, arrangement and operation formaintaining a continuous pile of sheets on said feeder so that sheetscan be fed continuously in succession from the top of the pile withouthaving to stop the feeder to reload it.

A still further object is to provide novel cooperating main andauxiliary pile elevators which are dependent on each other in theoperations thereof to maintain a continuous supply of sheets on a sheetfeeder.

Another object is to provide in a sheet feeder novel cooperatinghydraulically operated main and auxiliary pile elevators for maintaininga continuous supply of sheets thereon.

Another object is to provide novel hydraulically operated main andauxiliary pile elevators which are electrically controlled and dependentupon each other in the operations thereof to maintain a continuoussupply of sheets on a sheet feeder.

Still another object is to maintain a continuous supply of sheets on asheet feeder through the provision of novel cooperating main andauxiliary pile elevators and pileloading means.

A still further object is to maintain a continuous supply of sheets on asheet feeder through the provision of novel cooperating main andauxiliary pile elevators which are dependent upon each other in theoperations thereof, in combination with a novel pile loading conveyorwhich is associated with the auxiliary pile elevator and dependent uponthe latter in its operation, thus requiring no attention on the part ofthe operator and relieving the latter for performance of other duties.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following detailed description when the sameis read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and are not intended to define the limits of theinvention, reference for this latter purpose being had primarily to theappended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer, to like partsthroughout the several views,

Figs. 1 and 1a are complementary side elevations of a sheet feederembodying the present invention, with the near side frame of said feederremoved and portions of certain parts broken away for purposes ofclearer illustration;

Figs. 2 and 2a are complementary vertical longitudinal sectional viewsof said feeder, said views being taken substantially on the lines 22 and2a-2a of Figs. 3 and 3a, respectively;

Figs. 3 and 3a are complementary top plan views of the feeder, with thepiles of sheets omitted and portions of the main pile elevator brokenaway for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end View, partly in section and looking from theright of Figs. 1a and 2a, showing the complete control valve assemblyfor the hydraulically operated main and auxiliary pile elevators;

Figs. 5 and 5a are vertical longitudinal central sections of certain ofthe valve units shown in Fig. 4 for controlling the rapid raising andlowering movements of the main and auxiliary pile elevators,respectively, the valves proper of said units being shown in thepositions they occupy when the main and auxiliary pile elevators are inthe full line positions shown in Figs. 1a and 2a, and said views beingcombined for purposes of clearer illustration;

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical longitudinal and transverse central sections,respectively, of the pile controlled valve unit shown in Fig. 4 forcontrolling the intermittent or step by step elevation of the main andauxiliary pile elevators, the valve proper of said unit being shown inthe position it occupies when the top of the pile from which the sheetsare fed is at the proper feedin level as shown in Figs. 1a and 2a;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on the line 9-9 ofFig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is shown as embodied ina sheet feeder having plate-like side frame members l and on which aremounted the sheet separating, forwarding and conveying devices (notshown) of the feeder. These devices which may be of any known designform no part of the present invention and it is therefore unnecessary toillustrate and describe the same in detail. Suffice to say that thesheet separating devices act to separate the sheets, which may be sheetsof paper, cardboard, tin, or other material, or folded sheets known assignatures, one after another from the top and at the rear of a pilethereof on said feeder, and the sheet forwarding devices act to forwardeach separated sheet from the front or rear thereof to the sheetconveying devices which, in turn, advance the separated and forwardedsheets in succession to the machine to be fed. The side frame membersl5, iii are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a base plate 11, andare connected together at the front thereof by two vertically spacedcross bars l8 and I9 suit- 1- ably secured thereto, and at the rearthereof by a cross shaft suitably secured thereto (Figs. 2 and 2a).

The main drive of the feeder preferably comprises a chain 2| around asprocket 22 and driven from any suitable source of power, such as, themachine to which the sheets are fed, to continuously rotate saidsprocket at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrowindicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Sprocket 22 is fixed on and drives a shaft23 which extends transversely of the feeder and is journalled atopposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in brackets 24 that arebolted to the inner surfaces of the side frame members !5, l3. Shaft 23is utilized to operate the various parts of the feeder hereinafterdescribed.

In accordance with the present invention the feeder is provided withnovel double pile elevators and novel pile loading means which cooperatein a novel manner to maintain a continuous pile of sheets on the feederand thus enable the latter to feed sheets continuously and at high speedfrom the top of the pile without having to stop the feeder to reload thesame, thereby obtaining a high output of fed sheets. As will appearhereafter, the double elevators which, for the sake of description, maybe termed main and auxiliary elevators, and the pile loading means arecompletely automatic in operation and are dependent upon each other inthe operations thereof to continuously maintain an adequate pile ofsheets on the feeder by automatically adding new loads or piles ofsheets at intervals under a preceding diminished load or pile toreplenish the latter while sheets are being fed from the top thereof. Inthis manner the replenishment of a preceding diminished pile of sheetswith a new pile of sheets within a prescribed time is positively assuredto maintain the continuous uninterrupted feed of the sheets, andrequires no attention on the part of the operator thus relieving thelatter for performance of other duties.

Referring now to Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a, the novel (Figs. 1, 2, and 8)passing main pile elevator indicated generally at 25 comprises aplurality of transversely spaced, forwardly extending fingers 26 adaptedto receive thereon and support a pile of sheets 27 which may be termedthe first pile. It is important to note that the relatively closespacing of the fingers 26 affords a substantially continuous pilesupporting surface and, hence, the pile of sheets can rest directly onand will be properly supported by said fingers, and no pile board orother platform is required between the same and said pile. Fingers 26are loosely mounted for upward pivotal movement on a transverselyextending shaft 28 for a purpose to appear hereafter, and are formedwith portions 29 that extend rearwardly beyond said shaft under and intoengagement with a second transversely extending shaft 3!). Engagement ofthe portions 29 of fingers 26 with shaft 30 holds said fingers inhorizontal pile supporting position and against downward pivotalmovement beyond said position to sustain the pile of sheets thereon.Fingers 26 are held in their respective positions on shaft 28 andagainst axial relative displacement by two collars 31 disposed onopposite sides of each finger and secured to said shaft.

Shafts 23 and 30 have bolted or otherwise suitably secured to oppositeends thereof horizontally disposed rack bars 32 and 33 which extendforwardly beyond shaft 28 adjacent the endmost pile supporting fingers26 and for a major portion of the length of the latter (Figs. 1a, 2a,and 3a). Each of the rack bars 32, 33 has journalled thereon coaxiallywith shafts 23, 30 conical anti-friction rollers 34, 34 which projectlaterally from said bars into horizontal, rearwardly extending channeltrack members 35, 35. It will thus appear that the rack bars 32, 33,together with the shafts 23, 30, form a carriage which is supported andguided by the rollers 33 and track members 35 for straight linehorizontal movement so that the pile supporting fingers 26 thereon maybe moved horizontally out of and into pile supporting position forpurposes hereinafter described. When the carriage is moved rearwardly orto the left, as viewed in Fig. 2a, by mechanism to be hereinafterdescribed, corresponding movement will be imparted to the pilesupporting fingers 26, thus retracting said fingers from normal pilesupporting position. When the carriage is thereafter moved forwardly,the pile supporting fingers 26 will be advanced from retracted positionand returned to pile supporting position.

As shown in Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a, the track members 35, 35 are boltedadjacent their forward ends to brackets 36 and 3'! which, in turn, arebolted to the vertical side bars 38 and 33, respectively, of an upright,transversely extending, rectangular frame including upper and lowercross bars 30 and ll, respectively, said side bars and cross bars beingbolted or otherwise suitably secured together at their ends to form saidframe. The track members 35, 35 extend to the front surfaces of the sidebars 38, 39, and are fitted into grooves 42 (Figs. 1a and 2a) milled inthe inner surfaces of said bars to further rigidly support said trackmembers.

The main pile elevator 25 comprising the upright frame, the trackmembers 35, 35, the car riage, and the pile supporting fingers 26, issupported by the upper projecting end of a hydraulically operated piston43 (Figs. la and 2a), and is secured to the latter in a suitable manner,as by bolts 44 which pass through suitable openings in the lower crossbar 4| of said frame and are threaded into said piston. The piston 43extends into a vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder 45 which islocated centrally between the side frame members i5, i6 and is bolted tothe base plate ll. Cylinder 45 is provided with a suitable packing gland46 which is adjustably secured to the upper end thereof. It will thusappear that when the piston 43 is raised, as here inafter described,corresponding upward move ment will be imparted to the main pileelevator 25, and when said piston is lowered, said elevator willlikewise be lowered.

The main pile elevator 25 is guided for straight line vertical movementby vertically spaced, conical anti-friction rollers 41, all which arejournalled at 48, 48 on each of the side bars 38, 39 of the uprightrectangular frame and project laterally therefrom into verticallyextending channel track members -39, 49 that are bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to the adjacent side frame members l5, l6 0f thefeeder. It will be apparent that with the construction hereinbeforedescribed, the pile supporting fingers 26 are not only raised andlowered, but are also capable of straight line horizontal retracting andadvancing movements.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the pilesupporting fingers 26 are automatically retracted from and advanced intopile supporting position, the retracting movement of said fingersoccurring at one level in the upward movement of the main elevator 25and the pile of sheets thereon, and the advancing movement of saidfingers occurring at another level in the downward movement of saidelevator with said fingers in retracted position. As herein shown, thisautomatic operation of the pile supporting fingers 2B is accomplished bymechanism preferably constructed, mounted, operated, and controlled asfollows.

Secured to or formed integrally with the driven sprocket 22 on thefeeder drive shaft 23 is a small sprocket 50 (Figs. 2 and 8) aroundwhich passes a chain 5i that extends downwardly therefrom, thenrearwardly under a sprocket 52 to rotate the latter continuously in thedirection of the arrow (Fig. 2) for a purpose hereinafter described, andthen around a sprocket 53 to rotate the latter continuously in thedirection of the arrow (Fig. 2). One reach of chain 5! also passesaround an idler chain tightening sprocket 54 which is rotatably mountedon and adjustably secured to a bracket 55 bolted to the base plate I 1.Sprockets 52 and 53 are of the same size but larger than the sprocket 53for speed reduction purposes. Sprocket 52 is fixed on a transverselyextending short shaft 53 which is journalled at opposite ends thereof insuitable bearings provided by brackets 57 and 58 bolted to the baseplate 11. Sprocket 53 is fixed on a transversely extending shaft 53which is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearingsprovided by brackets 30 and 6| bolted to the base plate ll (Fig. 8).

Mounted on shaft 59 adjacent bracket 60 is a friction slip-clutch 52(Fig. 8) of a well-known design and comprising a cup-shaped member 63that is loosely mounted on said shaft. Disposed within clutch member 63and suitably connected with shaft 59 for rotation thereby and axialmovement relative thereto is a series of metal disks 64 which, throughthe medium of axially movable leather disks 65, frictionally drivesimilar axially movable metal disks 66 that are suit- 6. ably connectedwith said clutch member. The leather disks, 6,5 are disposed between themetal disks 64 and 66, and all said disks are retained in frictionaldriving contact with each other bya coil compression spring 61surrounding shaft 59 and having one end engaging a collar 68 on saidshaft, and the opposite end engaging the outermost driving disk- 64.Secured to. or formed integrally with clutch member 63 is a spur pinion69 which meshes with a spur gear 10 to rotate the latter in thedirection of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1. For a purpose to bepresently described, the pinion 69 and gear I0 are so pro portioned tohave a ratio of 2:1, 1. e. one revo1ution of gear 19 to two revolutionsof pinion 6.9, or one-half of a revolution of gear 10 toone revolutionof pinion, 69.

Gear 10 is fixed on a short transversely extending shaft ll (Figs. 1 and8) which is j0urnalled in suitable bearings provided on the. bracket 51and projects beyond the latter toward the feeder side frame l5. Fixed,on the projecting end of shaft H is a crank disk 12, the crank pin 13 ofwhich is pivotally connected with. one end of a link 14. The oppositeend of link. 14 is pivotally connected at 15 (Fig. 1m) with one end of arack bar 16 that is supported and guided for straight line horizontalreciprocating movement in a bracket 11 bolted to the base plate I1(Figs. 1a and 4). Meshing with the rack bar 76 is a spur pinion 18secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 19 which is locatedadjacent the feeder side frame member I5 and is journalled in suitablebearings provided on the bracket El and by a bracket 80 that is boltedto said frame member and projects inwardly therefrom to receive saidshaft. Shaft l9v ex tends upwardly through and beyond a bearing 8| thatis formed on and projects laterally from the bracket 36 which supportsone of the track members 35 of the main elevator 25. Axial move ment ofshaft 19 is prevented in one direction by the pinion l8 and in theopposite direction by a collar 82 which is secured to said shaft andengages the underside of the bearing therefor on bracket 11.

Disposed above the bearing 8! on bracket 36 and keyed to shaft 19 forsliding movement therealong is a bevel gear 83 (Figs. 1a and 3a.) whichmeshes with a similar gear 84. This gear 84 is fixed on one end of atransversely extending shaft 85 which is journalled in suitable bearingsprovided by brackets 86, 86 that are bolted to the upper cross bar 49 ofthe upright rectangular frame of main elevator 25 (Figs. 2a and 3a). aretwo spur gears 8'! and 88 which mesh with the rack bars 32 and 33,respectively, of the main elevator carriage carrying the pile supportingfingers 26. It will be noted that the bevel gears 83, 84, shaft 85, andspur gears 81, 88, due to the described mounting therefor, are capableof vertical movement along with the main elevator 25,. When the rack barH5 is moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1a, through rotation ofthe crank disk 72 one-half of a revolution in the direction of the arrow(Fig. 1) by the described connections therefor with the continuously rotating shaft 53, the rack bars 32, 33 will be moved rapidly toward theleft Fig. 1a) through clockwise rotation of spur gears 87, 88 by thespur pinion i8, shaft 79 and bevel gears 83, 84, resulting in like rapidmovement of the pile support-- ing fingers 23 toward the left (Fig. la)and complete withdrawal of said fingers from pile sup- Secured to androtated by shaft 85- porting position. When the rack bar 16 isthereafter moved toward the right, the pile supporting fingers 26 willbe rapidly advanced from retracted position and completely returned topile supporting position through counterclockwise rotation of gears 81,88 by the described connections therefor with said rack bar. With theconstruction thus far described, it is apparent that crank disk 12 willbe continuously rotated and, hence, the pile supporting fingers 26 willbe moved continuously out of and into pile supporting position upon eachcomplete revolution of said crank disk. Mechanism is, therefore,provided to normally hold the crank disk 12 against rotation with thepile supporting fingers 26 normally disposed in pile supportingposition, and to release the crank disk for rotation one-half of arevolution only at different intervals, whereby said fingers will beretracted from pile supporting position at one level in the upwardmovement of elevator 25, and advanced into pile supporting position atanother level in the downward movement of said elevator. As hereinshown, said mechanism is preferably constructed, mounted, and operatedas follows:

Secured to pinion 69 is a disk 89 (Figs. 1 and 8) which is formed on itsperiphery with a single tooth 90 that is normally engaged by the upperhooked end of a vertical latch 8!. The latter is pivotally mounted at 92on a bracket 93 bolted to the base plate l'i. Latch 8| is biased towardsdisk 89 by a spring-pressed plunger 94 disposed within a container 95secured to bracket 93. Plunger 96 projects from container through asuitable opening in bracket 93 into engagement with latch 9i. The springfor plunger as is indicated at 96 and surrounds said plunger between aflange 97 thereon and container 95.

It will thus appear that engagement of the latch 9| with the tooth 9) ondisk 89 normally holds pinion 59, gear G and crank disk '52 againstrotation by shaft 59, at which time the crank pin 73 on crank disk '42is disposed in its extreme forward position as shown in full lines inFig. 1, and the pile supporting fingers 26 are disposed in normal pilesupporting position, as shown in Fig. la. This holding of pinion 69against rotation will not, however, afiect the operation of shafts 23,56, and 59 due to the slip clutch concction 62 between the latter shaftand said pinion. When latch 91 is disengaged from tooth $30, ashereinafter described, the pinion 69 will be released for rotation byshaft 59 one revolution only, whereupon crank disk 12 will be rotated inthe direction of the arrow (Fig. l) one-half of a revolution to move thecrank pin '53 from its full-line forward position, to its broken-linerearward position, shown in Fig. 1, and thereby effect completeretraction of fingers 26 from pile supporting position, at which timesaid crank disk is again stopped through engagement of latch 9| with thetooth 9Q on disk 89. Fingers 26 will then be held in retracted positionuntil latch 9| is again actuated, whereupon crank disk 12 will befurther rotated in the same direction one-half of a revolution only tomove crank pin 13 from its broken-line rearward position to itsfull-line forward position and thereby return said fingers into pilesupporting position.

The first operation of latch 8! to cause retraction of the pilesupporting fingers 26 from pile supporting position, as hereinbeforedescribed, is effected automatically under the control of the pile ofsheets on the second or auxiliary elevator to be hereinafter described,and while various ways and means may be employed for this purpose, saidoperation, as herein shown, is preferably effected electrically and bymeans comprising a solenoid 93 which is bolted to bracket 93 (Figs. 1and 8). Pivotally connected at 99 with the movable core tilt; ofsolenoid 98 is one end of a link Hi! the opposite end of which ispivotally connected at N32 with latch 9i. W'hen solenoid 98 isenergized, as hereinafter described, core l as will be drawn rearwardlyor toward the left (Fig. l) and, hence, latch 9! through the describedconnections therefor with said core will be swung about its pivot 92 outof engagement with the tooth 90 on disk =89, whereupon the latter andpinion 59 will be released for rotation by shaft 59, as and for thepurposes hereinbefore described. When solenoid 98 is deenergized, coreI96 and latch 91 will be returned to their original positions by thespring-pressed plunger 9 so that said latch will be disposed in the pathof rotation of the tooth 58 on disk 89 to again engage said tooth andstop said disk and the pinion after one complete revolution thereof.

Pivotally mounted on shaft .25 of main elevator 25 is a control memberin the form of an elongated arm 53 (Figs. 2a and 3a) which extendsforwardly from said shaft in the space between two of the piiesupporting fingers 25, and downwardly at an angle so that the forwardfree end thereof will normally be disposed beneath and in spacedrelation with said fingers for engagement by the top of the pile ofsheets on the second or auxiliary elevator upon upward movement thereof,as hereinafter described. Arm N33 is formed with an upwardly projectingshort arm which engages the plunger N5 of a normally open micro-switchW6 that is secured to a plate it? which, in turn, is secured to shaft30. Micro-switch M36 is of well-known design and is of the general typedisclosed in the United States Patent No. 1,956,020, granted May 22,1934, to P. R. McGall, therefore needing no detail description herein.Switch H36 and solenoid 98 have connected therewith lead wires H38 andH19, respectively, which are connected with a suitable source ofelectrical current, and said switch and said solenoid are connectedtogether by a lead wire i it). It will be noted that by virtue of thedescribed mounting of control member 563, Hid, and switch I35 on theshafts 28 and 30, respectively, said member and switch will be movedalong with the pile supporting fingers 26 when the latter are retractedfrom and advanced into pile supporting position.

It will thus appear that when the arm N3 of control member IE3, it israised by the pile of sheets on the auxiliary elevator, as hereinafterdescribed, the arm 404 will actuate plunger H15, whereupon the contactsof switch 106 will be closed and the electrical circuit to solenoid 96will be completed through lead wire HG. Solencid 88 will then beenergized to efiect disengagement of latch 9! from the tooth 99 on disk88 and rotation of crank disk i2 one-half of a revolution resulting inretraction of the pile supporting fingers 25 from pile supportingposition, and corresponding movement of control arm 1533 out of contactwith the top of the pile of sheets on the auxiliary elevator. Controlarm I03 will then drop by gravity, whereupon the pressure of arm H34 onplunger Hi5 will be relieved and the contacts of switch 166 willautomatically open to break the electrical circuit to solenoid 98.Solenoid 98 will then be de-energized to enable latch 9| to re-engagethe tooth 99 on disk '89 upon one complete revolution thereof and stoprotation of the crank disk '52, as hereinbefore described. The length oftime switch I06 is closed varies with the length of the sheets handledin the feeder, but at no time is said switch held closed long enough topermit more than one complete revolution of pinion G9. Downward pivotalmovement of control arm I 03 is limited through engagement of arm I withthe upper cross bar 40 of the upright frame of main elevator '25. It isknown that micro-switch I96 is so constructed that the plunger I05thereof may be moved a reasonable amount beyond contact closingposition. Hence, this overtravel of plunger i515 provides for additionalupward movement of control arm I93 beyond contact closing positionwithout damaging switch I-ilt or breaking said arm.

The second operation of latch BI to cause return movement of the pilesupportin fingers 26 from retracted position into pile supportingposition is also effected automatically but under the control of mainelevator 25. For this purpose, main elevator 25 is provided with asecond control member in the form of an arm III (Figs. a and 3a) whichis pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a stud II2 that is securedin the side bar 39 of the vertically movable rectangular frame adjacentthe lower end thereof. Arm I'I-I projects forwardly beyond the frontsurface of side bar 39, and is formed at the rear end thereof with aweight H3 to overbalance said arm and normally hold the latter inengagement with the upper shoulder I I i of a wide recess II5 milled inthe outer surface of said side bar. Shoulder H4 is bevelled, asindicated at -I I6, and recess I I 5 is of a width sufficient to permitpivotal movement of arm 'I'II in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 2a, relative to side bar 33.

Disposed in the path of vertical movement of control arm II I with mainelevtor 25 is one arm I H of a bell crank trip lever I I8 (Figs. 2a and3a) which is pivotally mounted at H9 on the feeder side frame member I6.The other arm I of bell crank I I8 extends downwardly and has its lowerend weighted and normally engaged with the plunger 'I2I of anormallyopen micro-switch I22 which is bolted to the side frame member 1-6. Apin I23 is secured in side frame member I6 and projects inwardlytherefrom across the rear "of bell-crank arm I20 to limitpivotal'movement'o'f bell crank H8 in a clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 2a, under the weight of said arm so that the .free rear end ofarm I I! will be located in proper position for engagement by the freeforward end of control arm II I. Switch I22 is electrically connectedwith solenoid 98 by a lead wire I24, and said switch and said solenoidare electrically "connected with a suitable source of electrical currentby lead wires I25 and I26, respectively.

It will thus appear than when the main elevator 25, with the pilesupporting fingers '26 in retracted position, is lowered to itslowermost position determined through engagement of the lower end ofpiston 43 with the "bottom of the well therefor in "cylinder 45, thecontrol arm III will engage bell-crank arm II! for a short interval,swing 'bl-l crank H8 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.2a, and then release isaid bell crank just before piston "43 engages thebottom of cylinder m5. :Under these conditions, the plunger :I2iI willbe actuated by 10 bell-crank arm I 20 to close the contacts of switchI22, and then released to permit said contacts to open automatically andreturn said plunger to its original position. When the contacts --ofswitch I22 are closed, the circuit to solenoid 98 will be completedthrough iead wire T24 and, hence, said solenoid will be energized longenough to effect disengagement of the latch 91 from the tooth on disk--89 and release gear '69 for rotation by shaft 59, and thende-energized through opening of said contacts to permit said latch toreturn to its original position and re-engage said tooth after onecomplete revolution of said disk. Thus, as the main elevator 25approaches its lowermost position and just before piston 43 contacts thebottom of cylinder 45, the crank disk I2 is further rotated one-half ofa revolution in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) to move the crankpin 13 from its herein-before described rearmost broken-line position toits foremost full-line position, shown in Fig. 1, and thereby fullyadvance the pile supporting fingers 26 from retracted position into pilesupporting position, and return control member I03, I04 to operativeposition, substantially at the lowermost position of the main elevator.

Delivery of fluid under pressure into cylinder 45 to raise piston 43 andthe main pile elevator 25 intermittently or rapidly and continuously,and the release of said fluid from said cylinder to rapidly lower saidpiston and said elevator, effected and controlled by mechanism which isalso utilized to eifect and control the same operations with respect tothe second or auxiliary pile elevator.

Accordingly, the "construction and arrangement of the auxiliary pileelevator will first be described so that a clear and completeunderstandingof the operations of said-fluid control mechanism will beobtained.

Referring now to Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a, the novel auxiliary pile elevatorindicated generally .at 121 is normally arranged beneath the main pile.elevator '25 for cooperation therewith and is inthe form of an anglecasting comprising a vertical transversely extending bar I28 which isspaced forwardly of the track members "49, 49 for elevator 25 a distancesubstantially equal to the length of the pile supporting fingers 2'6,.and a plurality of transversely spaced fingers 129 which extendrearwardly from said bar at the top thereof substantially to the trackmembers 49, 49 and are adapted to receive thereon and support a secondpile of sheets I30 which may be termed the new pile. The pilesupportingfingers I 29 of auxiliary elevator 1'2! are located in verticalalignment with the spaces between the :pile supporting fingers 26 ofmainelevator25, and, like the fingers 2B, the fingers I29 will properlysupport a pile of sheets thereon without employing the usual pile boardor other platform between said pile and said lingers. The ends of thepile supporting fingers I29 are slightly curved downwardly to facilitateloading of the pile of sheets I30 and subsequent new loads or piles ofsheets thereon, as hereinafter described.

"The auxiliary elevator 12'! is 'guidedfor straight line verticalmovement by vertically spaced, conical anti-friction rollers I3I, 'I3I(Figs. 112,211., and 3a) which are ,journa'lled on the elevator bar I 28at opposite ends thereof and project laterally from said bar intovertically extending channel track members 132, 132 that arebolted orotherwise suitably secured to the side frame members 15, (It6 of thefeeder.

Auxiliary elevator 12.1 is supported by the upper projecting end of ahydraulically operated piston I33, and is secured to the latter in asuitable manner, as by bolts I34 which pass through suitable Openings ina flange I35 and are threaded into the elevator bar I28, said flangebeing secured to or formed integrally with said piston. The piston I33extends into a vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder I36 which iscentrally located between the feeder side frame members l5, I6 and isbolted to the base plate I1. Cylinder I36 is provided with a suitablepacking gland I31 which is adjustably secured to the upper end thereof.It will thus appear that when piston I33 is raised, as hereinafterdescribed, corresponding upward movement will be imparted to theauxiliary pile elevator I21 and the new pile of sheets thereon, and whensaid piston is lowered, said elevator will likewise be lowered.

Located in close proximity to the forward ends of the pile supportingfingers 26 of main elevator 25 and extending downwardly between andbeyond the pile supporting fingers I29 of auxiliary elevator I21 is aplurality of vertically extending, transversely spaced pile guides I38against which the front edges of the sheets of the piles on saidelevators bear during elevation of the same, said pile guides alsoserving to locate the piles of sheets of different lengths capable ofbeing handled in the feeder, in proper forward positions on said pilesupporting fingers. guides I36 are bolted at the upper and lower endsthereof to the tie bars I8 and I9 through the medium of horizontal,forwardly extending portions I39, I39.

Delivery of fluid under pressure into the hydraulic cylinders 45 and I36to raise the respective pistons 43 and I33 and the main and auxiliaryelevators 25 and I21, respectively, and the release of said fluid fromcylinders to lower said elevators, is effected and controlled in a novelmanner by mechanism preferably constructed, mounted, and operated asfollows.

Secured in any suitable manner to the base plate I1 at the front thereofis a tank I 40 adapted to contain a supply of oil, Water, or othersuitable motive fluid (Figs. 1a and 2a). Tank I40 is closed at the topthereof by a cover I4I bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto.Extending into tank I40 through cover MI is one end of a conduit I42 theopposite end of which is connected, as by a fitting I 43, with the inletside of a rotary fluid pump I44 that is bolted to cover I4I. Pump I44 isof the constant displacement, low pressure type and is drivencontinuously and at constant speed by an electric motor (not shown)which is bolted to cover MI and is coupled with the shaft I45 of saidpump.

Upon rotation of pump I44 fluid is drawn from tank I40 through conduitI42 and fitting I43 and forced out through a conduit I46 having one endconnected with the exhaust side of said pump. The opposite end ofconduit I46 is connected with the inlet side of a pressure relief valveI41 which is supported by and connected with a bypass conduit I48 thatis secured to cover MI and extends therethrough into tank I40, Thispressure relief valve I41 is of well-known design needing no detaildescription herein, except to say that its purpose is to open and permitthe fluid to flow from pump I44 back to tank I40 through conduit I48when the fluid pressure, for any reason, exceeds a predetermined amount,thus preventing damage to the hydraulic system.

Under normal operating conditions, the fluid drawn from tank I40 by pumpI44 flows through The pile relief valve I41 and is directed, in a mannerto be hereinafter described, to a pile controlled valve unit indicatedgenerally at I49, and to two other valve units indicated generally atI50 and I5I (Figs. 1a, and 4 to 7). The pile controlled valve unit I49is utilized to control the intermittent or step by step elevation of themain and auxiliary pile elevators 25 and I21, respectively, and thevalve units I50 and I5I are utilized to control the rapid and continuousraising and lowering movements of the main pile elevator 25 and of theauxiliary pile elevator I21, respectively. The valve units I49, I50, andI5I are supported by a vertically disposed plate I52 which is bolted toa bracket I53 and projects upwardly and downwardly from said bracket.This bracket I53 is bolted to and extends across the top of atransversely extending U-shaped bracket I54 which is located at thefront and to one side of the feeder between the hydraulic cylinders 45and I36, and is bolted to the base plate I1.

As shown in Figs. 1a, 2a, 4, 6, and 7, the pile controlled valve unitI49 comprises a body I55 which is bolted to the front surface of plateI52 at one side and adjacent the lower end thereof.

Body I55 is provided centrally thereof with a cylindrical bore I56(Figs. 6 and '1) which extends vertically therethrough and is incommunication with two axially spaced ports or passages I51 and I58 thatare formed in said body and open outwardly through the front and oneside, respectively, thereof. Body I55 is further provided with anaxially extending passage I59 which opens outwardly through the upperand lower ends thereof and communicates with the lower end of the boreI56 therein through a restricted port I60. Associated with therestricted port I60 is an adjustable needle valve I6I for a purpose tobe hereinafter described. Valve I6I is threaded in an adapter I62secured in a suitable manner to body I55, and projects through the wallof said body, through the passage I59, and into cooperation with theadjacent end of the restricted port I60.

The lower end of bore I56 in body I55 is closed by a plug I63 (Figs. 6and 7) which is threaded into said body and is provided with a centralopen ended port I64 communicating with said bore. Port I64 is normallyclosed by an upwardly opening check valve in the form of a ball I65loosely retained by plug I63. Bolted to the lower end of body I55 is acap I66 provided with an annular well I61 which is in communication withthe passage I59 in said body and with the port I64 in plug I63. Well I61is normally filled with fluid and is maintained full of fluid in amanner to be hereinafter described.

Slidably mounted in the bore I56 of body I55 is a valve I68 (Figs. 6 and7) which is formed with a reduced portion I69 for establishingcommunication at certain intervals between the ports I51 and I58 in saidbody. Valve I60 has secured thereto or formed integrally therewith astem I10 which projects upwardly beyond the body I55 through a guide capI1I that is bolted to the upper end of said body and is provided with asuitable packing gland I12 bolted thereto and surrounding said stem. CapI1I is further provided with a passage I13 which connects the upper endof the bore I56 with the upper end of the passage I59 in body I55 toprovide a drain for any leakage of fluid around the valve I68 which willbe directed by passage I59 into the well I61 in cap I 66 and therebyserve to maintain a sufficient supply of fluid in said well.

"Threaded into body I55 aria ebmmiiificaung with the port I51 therein isa T-fitting I14 '(Figs. 1a, 2a, 4, and 7 having connected therewith oneend of a conduit I the opposite end of which is connected with thepressure relief valve I41 to direct the fiuid under pressure drawn fromtank I40 by pump I44 to said body. Threaded into body I55 andcommunicating with the passage I59 therein is a T-fitti ng' 15 (Figs.1iz; '2a, 4-,

and 6) having connected therewith one end of a conduit 1 the oppositeend of which extends through the cover I4I of tank I40 and into thelatter to return the excess fluid leaking froin around the valve I69 andin said passage to said tank. Connected with body I55, as by a. fittingI18 (Figs. 5 and 6); and commurfic ating with the port I50 therein isone end of a conduit I19 which extends upwardly along one end at plateI52 and then laterally across the rear surface of said plate. Theopposite end of this conduit I19 is connected, as by a fitting I80 (Fig.2a); with the body ISI of a directional fluid control valveunitindicated generally at I82 (Figs. 2a and 4) which is bolted to therear surface of plate I52 adjacent the upper end thereof, This valveunit I82 iscomrnon to both the main pile elevator and the auxiliary pileelevator I21, and is utilized to autornatically control the delivery offluid under pressure from the pile controlled 'valve unit-J49 to thehydraulic cylinder 45 to effect raising of elevator 2 5, or to thehydraulic cylinder I to effect raising of elevator I21.

V Asshown in Fig. 2a, the body I8! of valve unit I2i-s providedcentrally thereof with a vertically extending cylindrical bore IB3 whichis in comrnunication with the conduit I19 through a port 104 formed insaid body. Bore I83 also com- Inunicates with two axial-lyspaced portsI85 and 'IBB th-at are termed in body I81 and open outwardly through thefront side thereof, the port I05 being located at a level above the portI84 and the port I86 beinglocated 'at a level below the port I84.Threaded into body 'I8I through a suitable elongated openingl81 in plateI52 '(Fig. 4) and communicating with the port I85 in said body is aT-fitting I88. Connected with fitting I89 is one end of a conduit I99the-opposite end of which is connected, as by a fitting 190, with thehydraulic cylinder 45 and coin"- rnunicates with the lower end of thepiston well in said cylinder through a port I9'I and an axiallyextending passage I92 communicating with said port and terminating inapassage I93 opening upwardly throughthe lower wall of said well.Threaded intobody I-8I through the "opening I81in plate I52 andcommunicating with the port I86 in said body is afitting I94 havingconnected therewith one end of a conduit I95 the opposite end of whichis connected with a T- fittirig I96. Connected with fitting I96 is oneend of aconduit I91 the opposite end of which is connected, as by afitting I98, with the hydr'aul ic cylinder I and cornrnunicates with thelower end of the piston well in said cylinder by a port and passages(not shown) similar to the port I9I and passages I92, I93 in cylinder45.

Slidably mounted in the bore 183 of body I8I is a valve I99 (Fig. 2a)which is formed with a reduced portion 200 and with a stem 20I thatprojects downwardly through and beyond asuitable packing land 2-02adjustablysecured to-said body at the lower end thereof. The projectingend of valve stein 20I engages the upper end of a push rod 203 (Figs.Za'and 4) which is fitted for reciprocation in the-bracket I53 andprojects 14 above and below the latter. Jenna-lied the lower projectingend of rod 203 is a earn roller 204 which engages a normally stationarycam 205 that is fixed on a transversely extending shaft 206 journalledat opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in the vertical arins ofthe U-' shaped bracket I54. Cain 205 is provided concentric high and lowportions 201 and 208; re= speetively, which are so proportioned thatupon rotation of said earn in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2a)one-half of a revolution the push rod 203 and Valve I99 will be loweredand will remain in lowered position, and upon subsequent r'ota tion ofthe cam in the same direction one half of a revolution said hush rod andsaid valve will be raised and will reiitain in raised position. Valve I99 and push rod 203 are yieldin'gly urged down-- wardly by a coilcompression spring 209 to maimtain the stern 20! of said valve incontact with said push rod and the roller 204 on the latter in contactwith cam 205. Spring 209 is disposed Within ahollo'w flanged cap 2I0bolted to the upper end of body I 8I, and has one end engaging againstthe upper wall of said cap and the op= posite end engaging against theupper end of valve I99. Rotation of push rod 203 relative to cam 205 isprevented by suitable means, such as by a screw 2| I which is threadedinto bracket 1-53 and has a reduced end that projects into an axiallyextending groove 'or keywa'y 212 formed in said push rod.

It Will thus appear that when 'carn 205 is disposed in its normal fullline position shown in Fig. 2a, the roller 204 on push rod 203 isengaged by the high part 201 of said ca-in and valve I99 is raised tothe full line position shown in said figure. In this position of valveI99 it will be noted that the fluid outlet port I86 in body -I-8I isclosed by said valve, and that the fluid --in-1et port I84 is incommunication with the fluid cute let port I through the reduced portion200 of the valve. Under these conditions fluid under pressure forced-into body I81 under the control of the pile controlled valve I68 'ofvalve unit I49 can 'only enter the conduit I89 resulting in actuation ofthe piston 43 in hydraulic cylinder 45 and raising of rn'ain elevator 25and the pile of sheets thereon When cam 205 is rotated o'ne' 'half er 'arevolution in the direction "of the arrow from the fullline positi'ionshown n Fig. 2a, by mechanism to be hereinafter described, roller 204 onpush rod 263 will ride on the high part 2010fsaid'cam and into the lowpart 208 thereof and "consequently push rod 203 'and valve I99 will belowered by the expanding action of spring 209. Valve I99 and cam 205will then be "disposed in the broken line positions shown in Fig. 2a. Inthis broken line position of valve I99 it will be noted that the'fiuid'outlet port I35 in body IB I is closed by said valve, and thatthe fluid inlet port I'll-4 is in communication with the fluid outletport 1'86 through the reduced "Dortion 200 of the valve. Under theseconditions "fiuid under pressure forced nto body I'B I under the controlof'the pi le controlled valve "I93 of unit I49 "can only enter theconduit T j-resultin'g in actuation or piste-n I3'3 in Cylinder I 36 andraising or auxiliary elevator "I21 and the pile of sheets thereon.

During operation of the feeder the main e'le vato'r 25 andau'xiliaryele'vat'or I21 cooperate to continuously maintain and supportan adequate pile of sheets-in feedingposition, and when the top of saidpile is at the proper 'feeding level, the valve I68 of thepilecontrolled valve unit I49 will be positioned as shown in Figs. 6 and7 wherein it will be noted that the fluid inlet port I51 (Fig. '7) inbody I55 is closed by said valve. Under these conditions fluid underpressure forced into body I55 by pump I45 cannot pass through said bodyand, hence, no fluid will be delivered to the directional control valveunit i82 to effect raising of the main elevator 25 or the auxiliaryelevator I21, as hereinbefore described. Closing of port I51 by valveI68 will not affect the operation of pump I44 since the relief valve I41will open and return the fluid to tank I55 through conduit I48 when thepressure of said fluid exceeds a predetermined amount.

However, as sheets are fed off the top of the pile by the sheetseparating and forwarding devices, the height of the pile decreases andit becomes necessary to actuate the valve I58 and thereby effect raisingof the elevator supporting said pile in order to keep the top of thelatter at a predetermined level for the operation of said devices. Thisactuation of valve I68 and resultant raising of the main elevator 25 orthe auxiliary elevator I27, as the case may be, may be controlled invarious ways and by various well-known means for this purpose, but asherein shown, is controlled electrically and by mechanism preferablyconstructed, mounted, and operated as follows.

Extending transversely of the feeder at the top thereof is a U-shapedbar 2I3 (Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a) which is slidably mounted on brackets2H3, 2 I 4 for adjustment longitudinally of the feeder in accordancewith the different lengths of sheets handled in the feeder. bolted tothe side frame members I5, Id, and bar 2 I3 is secured to said bracketsin all positions of longitudinal adjustment thereof as by bolts 2I5,2I'5 which extend through slots H6, 216 in said bar and are threadedinto said brackets. Bolted to bar 2I3 substantially at the centerthereof is a bracket 2 I1 provided with a shelf 2 I 8 and a forwardlyextending arm 219 (Figs. 2a and 3a). Pivotally mounted at 229 on arm 2I8is a pile height governed bell crank lever 22! having a rearwardly anddownwardly extending arm 222 and an upwardly extending arm 223. Journalled on the free end of bell-crank arm 222 is a pile height testingmember or roller 224 which rests on the top of the pile of sheets beingfed at the rear and substantially in the center thereof. Bell-crank arm223 is adapted to engage the plunger 225 of a normally open micro-switch225 which is bolted to the shelf 2 I8.

Bolted to plate I52 at the top thereof and disposed directly above thepile controlled valve unit I49 is a solenoid 221 (Figs. la, 2a, and 4)having a core 228 with which is pivotally connected the upper end of thestem I18 of valve I68. Solenoid 221 is electrically connected withmicro-switch 226 by a lead wire 229, and said solenoid and said switchare, in turn, connected with a suitable source of electrical current bylead wires 235 and 23I, respectively. Valve IE3 is yieldingly urgeddownwardly to the normal position shown in Figs. 6 and '7 by a lightcompression spring 232 surrounding the stem I15 of said valve and havingone end engaging against an abutment on said stem and the opposite endengaging against a bracket 233 which is bolted to plate I52 and isprovided with a suitable opening to permit stem I15 to projecttherethrough.

As long as the top of the pile from which the sheets are being fed is atthe proper feeding level, the bell crank lever 22I through engagement ofBrackets 2H3, 2M are roller 224 with said pile will be prevented frommoving downwardly to enable arm 223 to engage and actuate plunger 225 ofswitch 226. Accordingly, the contacts of switch 226 will remain open andno upward movement will be imparted to the elevator supporting said pilebecause valve I58 will remain in its lowermost position shown in Fig. '1closing the fluid inlet port 151 in body I55 and preventing delivery offluid under pressure to the directional control valve unit I 82.

As sheets are fed one after another from the top of the pile, however,and with the roller 224 engaged therewith, the bell crank lever 22I willlower by gravity and continue to do so until arm 223 has actuated theplunger 225 to close the contacts of switch 226 and thereby complete theelectrical circuit to solenoid 221 through lead wire 229. Solenoid 221will then be energized, whereupon core 228 is drawn upwardly and raisesvalve I68 relative to body I55 to a position such that the fluid inletport I51 is in communication with the fluid outlet port I53 through thereduced portion I59 of said valve. Under these conditions fluid underpressure forced into body 555 by pump I4 2 will flow through said body,through conduit I19, into and through body I8I of valve unit I82, andthen into the hydraulic cylinder d5 of main elevator 25 through conduitI89, or into the hydraulic cylinder I35 of auxiliary elevator I21through conduits 195, I91 depending on the position of valve I99 ofvalve unit I82. In the normal full-line position of valve I95. shown inFig. 2a, the fluid will flow into hydraulic cylinder -55 resulting inactuation of piston 43 and raising of main elevator 25 and the pile ofsheets thereon, but when said valve is moved to the broken-line positionwhich occurs after a new pile of sheets has been added by auxiliaryelevator I21 to and under a preceding diminished pile on main elevator25 at which time the new pile and the diminished pile will be supportedby said auxiliary elevator, as will appear hereafter, the fluid underpressure will then flow from body I8! of valve unit H82 into hydrauliccylinder I35 resulting in actuation of piston I33 and raising ofauxiliary elevator I21 with the new and diminished piles of sheetsthereon.

As the pile of sheets on main elevator 25 or auxiliary elevator I21, asthe case may be, thus raises, the bell-crank lever 22!, throughengagement of roller 224 with the pile, also raises, whereupon thepressure of arm 223 on plunger 225 is relieved and the contacts ofswitch 226 automatically open and return said plunger to its originalposition. Opening of the contacts of switch 225 de-energizes solenoid221 whereupon valve 158 is lowered to its original position shown inFigs. 6 and 7 by spring 232, thus again closing the fluid inlet port 51in body 555 and interrupting the flow of fluid under pressure to valveunit I52 to stop further upward movement of main elevator 25 orauxiliary elevator I 21 and the pile of sheets thereon until it againbecomes necessary to raise said pile at which time the abovedescribedoperations of valve I58 are repeated.

Lowering of valve I58 as aforesaid to stop further upward movement ofelevator 25 or elevator I21 and the pile of sheets thereon is delayed orretarded so that, upon opening of the contacts of switch 225 following aslight upward movement of the pile, the elevator will not be directlystopped but, on the contrary, will continue to raise and thereby bringthe top of the pile beyond switch opening position and an amountsufflcient to enable feeding of a number of sheets therefrom beaccaecsfore .raising of the elevator'and said pile is again necessary. .In thismanner the pile is raised to the normal feeding .level upon a singleoperation of switch '225, whereas theswitch would otherwise operate .foreach .sheet particularly if they are relatively thick, thus eliminatingfrequent operations of .said switch and solenoid 221, preventingrapidsand excessive wear-of the same and frequent repairs orreplacements thereto. As herein shown, this delayed action 'of valve[-68 is -accomplishedras'follows.

When valve I68 is raised, as hereinbefore described, to effect raisingof the main elevator 25 or the auxiliary elevator I27, and the :pile ofsheets thereon, this raising of valve I68 creates vacuum in the lowerend of bore I56 in body I55 whereupon the fluid in well I 6'I of cap r56:raises the 'ball check valve I65 and flows into said borethroughthe-port I64 -in plug 163. When the contacts of switch 226 areopened and the valve I68 begins to drop under "the action of spring232,as hereinbefore described, the ball check valve I65 drops and againcloses the port I64 in plug I63, whereupon the iluid previously admittedinto bore I56 is trapped therein and must be forced therefrom by'valveI68 through the restricted port It!) into passage I59 before said valvecan drop to its lowermost position shown in Figs. 6 and '7, thusmaterially retarding or delaying the lowering movement of valve I68 andclosing of the fluid inlet port I51 thereby. "The flow of fluid from thebore II5 through port I50 and, hence, the

speed atwhich valve I 68 descends and the duration of upward movement ofmain elevator '25 or auxiliary elevator I21 .and the pile of sheetsthereon upon each operation of said valve, may be regulated, 'asdesired, by adjusting the needle valve I6I with respect to said port..It will be understood thatyarious other ways and means may be employedin connection with the pile controlled means .to delay or retard theoperation of any part thereof whereby delay in the lowering movement ofvalve I68 .is effected. It will further be understoodthat'the;arm.223 ofbell crank lever 221 may be provided with an adjustable screw 'orthelike for contacting and operating the plunger '225 of switch 226, or thelatter may be mounted for adjustment toward and away from said armwhereby the feeding level of the pile maybe varied, as wellunderstood-in the art.

The Valve unit I58 '(Figs. 1a, 4, and 5) which is utilized to controlthe rapid and continuous lowering and raising movements of main elevator25 comprisesa body 234 that .is bolted to the rear surface -of :plateI52 in spaced relation with the directional fluid control valve unit5-82. 'Body 234 is provided centrally thereof with a verticallyextending cylindrical bore 235 -(Fig. 5) which communicates with twoaxially spaced ports 236 and 231 that are formed in :said body and-openoutwardly through the front side there- 'of. .Bore .235 alsocommunicates with :a port 233 which is.formed;in.body;234 at apoint'belowthe port 231 and opens outwardly through :the :rear side ofsaidrbody.

Threaded into body 234 through a suitable elongated opening 239 in plateI52 and communicating with the port 236 in said body is a fitting 240having connected therewith one end of a conduit 241 (Figs. la, 4, and5). The opposite end of this conduit 24I is connected with a T- iitting242 having connected therewith one end of 'a conduit 243 the oppositeend of which is connected with the 'T-fitting FM on body I55 of 18 valveunit M9. .The fluid under pressure drawn from tank I40 by gpu-mp I44 andentering fitting H4 will.thusibeldirected to body .234 through conduit2'43, fitting 242., conduit 24], and fitting 240.

Threaded .into body 234 through opening 239 is :plate 1.52 andcommunicating with the port 23-! in ,said body is a fitting .244 .havingconnected therewith one end of a conduit .245 (Figs. .4 and 5-)- Theopposite end .of this conduit 245 is connected with the T-wfill'ting.188 on body I-8I of valve .unit 182 whereby the fluid under pressureforced into .body 234 will be :directed from said body .to the hydrauliccylinder 45 through said conduit, said fitting :and conduit I89.Threaded into .body 23 and communicating with the port 23 8 therein .is:a fitting 24.6 (Figs. 1a and 5) having connected therewith one .end ofa conduit 24.7. The opposite .end of this conduit 24-7 is connected witha T-fitting {248 (-Fig. 5a) having connected therewith one end :of .aconduit 2,49. The opposite .end of this conduit 249 is connected withthe T-jfitting .ITI6 on body I of valve-unit I ia .(Figsla, 2a,, and 4)wherebythe returnfiow of fluid from hydraulic cylinder 45 will .bedirected to the fluid supply tank-l 45 through fitting 256, conduit 25i, fitting 248, conduit 249,.fittin I and conduit .I 71..

.Slidably mounted in the bore 235 .of body 23.4 is a valve .258 (Fig. 5).Which is formed with a reduced portion .254 and with a stem 252 thatprojects downwardly through and beyond a suitable packing gland 253adjustably securedstorsaid body .at the lower .end :thereof. Theprojecting endof valvestem 252 engages the :upper end of a push .rod 254 .(Figs. .4.- .and 25.) which is fitted for reciprocation in thebracket I53 and projects above and below the :latter. Journalledon a pin255 which is secured in and projects laterally from push :rodz254 is acam :roller 256 which is adapted to engage :a normally stationary oam257 that is fixednn shaft .206. Cami25'l is formed to provide anabbreviated high part .258, an abbreviated low .part 259, and .aconcentric intermediate low part 260 wherebyavalve 256 will "o'ccupythree axial positions with respect to body v2 54 upon rotation ofsaidlcam.

Valve'250 and-push rod 254rare=yieldingly urged downwardly :by a :coil.compression spring 26i .(Fig. 5) which is zdisposedWithinahollow'flanged cap 2 62 :bolted to the .upper end of body 2 34, one endof :said spring engaging against the upper wall .of said cap and theopposite end engaging against the .upper .end of said valve. Rotation ofpush rod 254 relative to cam 25"! is prevented by a :screw 253 which isthreaded into bracket I58 and "base. reduced-end that projects into anaxially extending groove (not shown) formed in said push rod.

.Pivotally mounted at "254 on bracket I55 and associated with push rod254 :a bell crank latch consisting of a rearwardly extending arm 1265and a downwardly-extending:armi266 provided at one edge and adjacent thelower end thereof with .a notch 25"! '(Figs. 4 and 5'). .As shown in.Fig. 5;, latch arm 266 normally rests adjacent its lower end againstthe projectingend of cam roller pin 255. "When push rod 254 is raisedthrough rotation of cam '25? and engagement of the high part 2-58thereof with roller 256, the pin .255 will register with the notch 267in latch arm 2.6.5,, whereupon the latter will swing under its ownweight .in a clockwise direction, as viewed .in Fig. ,5, and receivesaid pin in said notch, thus hold- "ing valve "250 and push rod 254 intheir raised uppermost positions and preventing said push 19 rod fromimmediately lowering and following the low parts 260 and 259 of cam 251.

Cam 251 is shown in full lines in Figs. 1a and 5 in the position itnormally occupies, i.e. when the sheets are being fed from the pile onmain elevator 25, and intermittent raising of said elevator and pile iseffected under the control of the pile controlled valve unit I49. Inthis position of cam 251 it will be noted that the roller 256 on pushrod 254 is engaged with the intermediate low part 268 of said cam at apoint adjacent the high part 258 and diametrically opposite the low part259 thereof. Under these conditions, valve 255 is disposed in itsintermediate position shown in Fig. 5 wherein it will be noted that theport 231 in body 234 is closed to the ports 236 and 238 by said valve.Thus, no fluid under pressure can enter hydraulic cylinder through port231 and conduits 245, I89 to raise main elevator and the pile of sheetsthereon, and the fluid previously admitted into said cylinder is trappedtherein and cannot flow therefrom through said conduits and said portthereby holding main elevator 25 and the pile of sheets thereon inraised position and against dropping.

When cam 251 is rotated one-half of a revolution in the direction of thearrow from the full line position to the broken line position shown inFig. 5, push rod 254 will immediately be raised by the high part 258 ofsaid cam and consequently valve 255 will be raised by said push rod toits uppermost position and held in said position through engagement oflatch arm 255 with pin 255, as hereinbefore described, and the low part259 of said cam will be disposed directly beneath the raised and latchedpush rod 254. In this raised position of valve 250 the fluid inlet port235 will be closed to the port 231 by said valve, but said latter portand the port 238 will be in communication through bore 235 and valvestem 252. Under these conditions, the fluid previously admitted into thelower end of hydraulic cylinder 25 will be released, whereupon mainelevator 25, due to its own weight, will drop rapidly and force piston43 downwardly until the lower end of the latter contacts the bottom ofthe well in said cylinder. As piston 43 thus descends, the fluid incylinder 45 will be forced therefrom by said piston back into the fluidsupply tank I45 through passage I93, I92, port I9I, conduits I89, 245,port 231, bore 235 and port 238 in valve body 234, and conduits 241,259, and I11, the resistance created by the fluid in so passing throughsaid passage, ports, bore and conduits controlling the rapidity of thedownward movement of main elevator 25.

When latch arm 266 releases push rod 254, as hereinafter described, andwith the low part. 259 of cam 251 disposed directly beneath said pushrod, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, valve 250 and push rod 254 willbe lowered by spring ZBI until roller 255 drops into the low part 259 ofcam 251. Valve 259 will then be disposed in its lowermost positionwherein the port 238 in body 234 will be closed by said valve, and thefluid inlet port 236 will communicate with the port 231 through bore 235in said body and the reduced portion 25I of valve 250. Under theseconditions, the fluid under pressure forced into body 235 by pump I44will flow continuously from said body through port 231 and into thelower end of hydraulic cylinder 45 through conduits 245, I89, port I9Iand p a The fluid under pressure so forced into cylinder 45 acts on thelower end of piston 43 and rapidly raises said piston, whereupon mainelevator 25 is rapidly raised thereby. This rapid raising of elevator 25continues until valve 250 is again shifted to its intermediate positionshown in Fig. 5 upon subsequent rotation of cam 251 one-half of arevolution from the broken line position to the full line position shownin said figure and engagement of the intermediate low part 260 thereofwith roller 256. Thereupon valve 255 not only interrupts the flow offluid under pressure into cylinder 45 to stop further upward movement ofpiston 43 and main elevator 25, but also prevents return flow of fluidfrom said cylinder and dropping of said elevator, as hereinbeforedescribed.

The valve unit I5I (Figs. 4 and 5a) which is utilized to control therapid and continuous raising and lowering movements of auxiliaryelevator I21 comprises a body 258 that is bolted to the rear surface ofplate I52 between the valve units I50 and I82. Body 258 is providedcentrally thereof with a vertically extending cylindrical bore 259 (Fig.5a) which communicates with two axially spaced ports 21!] and 21I thatare formed in said body and open outwardly through the front sidethereof. Bore 269 also communicates with a port 212 which is formed inbody 288 at a point below port 21I and opens outwardly through the rearside of said body.

The T-fitting 252 (Fig. 5a) is threaded into body 258 through a suitableelongated opening 213 in plate I52 and communicates with the port 215 insaid body whereby the fluid under pressure drawn from tank MI by pumpI24 and entering fitting I12 will also be supplied to body 258 throughconduit 243. Threaded into body 255 through opening 213 in plate I52 andcommunicating with the port 21! in said body is a fitting 214 havingconnected therewith one end of a conduit 215. The opposite end of thisconduit 215 is connected with the T-fitting I96 (Figs. 1a and 2a)whereby the fluid under pressure forced into body 268 will be directedfrom said body to the hydraulic cylinder I35 for auxiliary elevator I21through said conduit, .said fitting and conduit I91. The T-fitting 248(Fig. 5a) is threaded into body 268 and communicates with the port 212in said body whereby the return flow of fluid from hydraulic cylinderI35 will be directed to the fluid supply tank I40 through said fitting,conduit 249, fitt ng I16, and conduit I11.

Slidably mounted in the bore 269 of body 268 is a valve 215 (Fig. 5a)which is formed with a reduced portion 211 and with a stem 218 thatprojects downwardly through and beyond a suitable packing gland 219adustably secured to said body at the lower end thereof. The projectingend of valve stem 218 engages the upper end of a push rod 286 (Figs. 4and 5a) which is fitted for v reciprocation in the bracket I53 andprojects above and below the latter. J ournalled on a pin 28I which issecured in and projects laterally from push rod 280 at the lower endthereof is a cam roller 282 adapted to engage a normally stationary earn283 that is fixed on shaft 205. Cam 283 is formed to provide anabbreviated high part 284, an abbreviated low part 285, and a concentricintermediate low part 285 whereby valve 215 will occupy three axialpositions with respect to body 258 upon rotation of said cam.

Valve 216 and push rod 280 are yieldingly urged downwardly by a coilcompression spring 281 (Fig. 5a) which is disposed within a hollowflanged cap 288 bolted to the upper end of body 268, one end of saidspring engaging against the upper wall of said cap and the opposite endengaging against the upper end of said valve. Push rod 280 is heldagainst rotation relative to cam 283 by a screw 289 which is threadedinto bracket I58 and has a reduced end that projects into an axiallyextending groove formed :in said push rod.

'Pivotally mounted at 264 :on ibracket I53 (Fig. a) and associated withpush .rod 280 :is a bell crank latch consisting of a rearwardlyextending arm 2% and a downwardly extending arm 29! provided at one edgeand adjacent the lower end thereof with a notch 292. Notch 92 is adaptedto receive therein the cam roller pin 28l when push rod 286 is raisedthrough rotation of cam 283 and engagement of the high part 28 thereofwith roller 282 and thus hold valve 216 in its raised uppermostposition, and prevent said push rod from immediately lowering andfollowing the low parts 285 andi286 of said cam.

In Figs. la and 2a, the auxiliary elevator 12'! is shown in full linesin its normal lowermost :plle loading position determined throughengagement of the lower end of piston I33 with the bottom of the welltherefor 'inhydraulic cylinder 135. Accordingly, valve H5 at this timeis disposed in its raised uppermost position and :held in said positionby latch 29!, as shown in Fig. 5a, and cam 283 is positioned, as shownin vfull lines :in said figure, wherein it will be noted that 'theil'owpart 2% thereof is disposed directly beneath the raised and latched pushrod 28%, and that the high part 233 of said cam is located .less than180 in advance of said low part. In this .normal raised position of-valve 21.6 it 'will be noted that the fluid inlet part 2118 in body 258is closed to the port 2H by said valve, and that the latter port is incommunication with the port :212 through the bore 26.? in said bodyandvalve stem 278. Hence, fluid under pressure forced into body 268 by pumpHi4 through port 2'?!) cannot enter conduit .2l5 to effect actuation of.piston I33 in hydraulic cylinder l-36,and'the fluidpr eviously admittedinto said cylinder is permittedt'o flow therefrom back to the fluidsupply tank I40 through conduits .l9l, 2T5, body "268, and conduits 2&9,ill to enable lowering of auxiliary elevator I21 to .1oading'position.

When push rod 2% "is released by latch :arm 29!, 'as hereinafterdescribed, and with the vlow part 285 of cam2283 disposed directlybeneath said pushirod, as shown iniull lines in Fig. 5a, valve 27E andpush rod .286 will be lowered by spring 28? until roller 282 drops intothe low part 285 of cam 283. Valve 2'55 will then 'be disposed in itslowermost position wherein the port 212 in body 2% will be closed bysaid valve, and :the fluid inlet port 27% will communicate with the port2' through bore 269 and the reduced portion 27! of valve 216. Underthese conditions, the fluid under pressure forced into body 258 by pumpMt through port fi'lil'will flow-continuously from said'body throughport 2-11 and into hydraulic cylinder let through conduit 1215, .fitting196, and conduit 197. The fluid under pressure so forced into cylinderI35 acts'on the .lowerend of piston I33 and rapidly raises :said piston,whereupon auxiliary elevator Hi and the new :pile of sheets thereon arerapidly raised thereby.

Raising of the auxiliary elevator i2] with the new pile of sheetsthereon, as aforesaid, -.continues until cam :233 is rotated one-half.of a revolution in the direction of the arrow from the full lineposition to the broken line position shown in Fig. 5a, at which timeroller 282 .on push rod 2% will immediately ride out of the low part.285 of cam 283 and onto the intermediate low part 2% thereof. Push rod280 will then be actuated to raise valve "216 to its intermediateposition wherein the port 2H in body 268 will be closed by said valve.Thereupon, the flow of fluid under pressure into hydraulic cylinder [36through conduits 2515,, I191 will be interrupted to step further upwardmovement of piston lBS-and-auXiliary elevator IZL'and the fluid admittedinto said cylinder will be trapped therein and cannot flow therefromthrough said conduits, thus holding auxiliary elevator [2? with the newpile of sheets thereon in elevated position and against dropping. Itwill be noted that since the :high part 284 of cam 283 is located lessthan 180 in advance -iof the low part 255 thereof, said high part willnot engage roller 282 on push rod 283 when said cam is rotated one-halfof a revolution :in the direction of the arrow from the full lineposition to the broken line position shown in Fig. 5a, but will bedisposed :in close proximity to said roller, as shown in broken lines insaid figure.

Accordingly, upon subsequent rotation of cam 2-83 one-half of arevolution in the direction :of the arrow from the broken line positionto the full line position shown in le' ig. :5a, the high part 2'84 ofsaid cam will immediately engage roller 282 and actuate push rod 283"and then move beyond said roller and push iro'd, whereupon valve Zlfiwill be raised to its uppermost position and push rod 2% will be engagedby latch arm 29!, as shown in Fig. 5a, to :hold said valve in saidposition and prevent 'said push rod from immediately lowering andfollowing the low parts 283 and 28 5of-cam 2-83. Communication will thenbe established between ports 21! and 212 to release the fiuid previouslyadmitted into cylinder i 33, whereupon auxiliary elevator I27, due toits own wei ht, will rapidly drop by gravity and force pistonI'Zdiownwardlyuntil the lower end of the latter contacts the bottom ofthe well therefor in said cylinder. As piston 133 thus descends, thefluid in cylinder its will be forced therefrom by said piston back intothe fluid supply tank l it through conduit till, fitting T25, conduit2-?5, body 258, fitting E58, conduit 2&9, fitting i l-t, and conduitll-l, the resistance created by the fluid in so passing through saidfittings, conduits antibody controlling the rapidity of the downwardmovement of auxiliary e'levator 1'21.

The here'inb'efore described operations of valves 199, 25B, and 216, andthe rotation of control cams "2GB, 25?, and 283 at certain intervals ise'fie'cted "automatically and controlled by mechanism preferablyconstructed, mounted, and operated as follows. Bolted or otherwisesuitably secured "to the inner surface of the feeder side frame member[-5 is a bracket 3'99 (Figs. la and 3a) "provided with a boss at! having-a suitable opening therein to -slid'ablytreceivetthe upper end of a'rod 692. The lower end of red .3112 :is sli'dablymounted in "aibracket3% (Figs. 1a and .4) which is bolted to the inner surface of the sideframe member i5. Fixed on red 1392 adjacent the llower end thereof is anarm .364 which extends inwardly and downwardly at an :angle from saidrod and is adapted i engage the rearwardly projecting :arms $2.65 andL296 of :the bell .crank :latches :associated wtih the push Erods '25'4and 280, respectively. Arm 39 i is held against rotation relative tolatch arms 265, 299 by a bifurcated arm 335 (Fig. 4) which is formedintegrally with bracket 333 and extends upwardly and inwardly therefromto receive arm 3%. Rod 332 and arm 33d thereon are yieldingly urgedupwardly by suitable resilient means, such as a coil compression spring333 surrounding said rod and having one end engaging against said armand the opposite end engaging against bracket 393. Upward movement ofrod 332 and arm 334 by spring 396 is limited by a stop collar 39'!adjustably secured to the lower projecting end of said rod.

Pivotally mounted at 308 on bracket 399 is a bell crank trip lever 309having a forwardly extending arm 3!!! and an upwardly and rearwardlycurved arm 3 (Figs. 1a and 3a). Trip arm 3H! has journalled thereon aroller 3l2 engaged with the upper projecting end of rod 332, and triparm 3! I has journalled thereon a roller 313 adapted to be engaged byone arm 3M of a bell crank control lever 315 carried by the mainelevator 25 for vertical movement therewith, the other arm of said leverbeing indicated at 3H5. Control lever 3l3 is disposed adjacent the innersurface of the vertical bar 38 of the upright rectangular frame of mainelevator 25, and is pivotally mounted at 351 on said bar. Arms 3 I l, 3i 6 of control lever 3l5 are so proportioned that when said lever is inthe normal full line position shown in Fig. la, arm 3M will projectbeyond the front edge of bar 38, and when said lever is swung to thebroken line position shown in said figure, arm 316 will project beyondthe rear edge of said bar for a purpose to appear hereafter. Arm 3H3 ofcontrol lever 315 normally rests against the lower shoulder 3H3 of arelatively wide recess 3l9 milled in the inner surface of bar 33. Arm3H5 is yieldingly held in engagement with shoulder M8 by a light pullspring 329 having one end connected with said arm and the opposite endconnected with bar 33 at a point rearwardly of the pivot 3 i 1.

Control lever 3&5 is so located on bar 33 that the arm 3M thereof,through step by step up- Ward movement of main elevator 25, will engagethe roller 3i3 on trip lever 399 and swing the latter in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. la, before the pile of sheets on thefingers 26 of said elevator is completely exhausted through feeding ofthe sheets one after another from the top thereof, as will behereinafter explained more in detail in connection with the descriptionof the operations of main and auxiliary elevators 25 and I27,respectively. It might be mentioned at this time that this actuation oflever 399 forces rod 332 and arm 3B5 thereon downwardly and, hence,causes said arm to release latch 29! from push rod 289 and effect rapidraising of auxiliary elevator i2! and the new pile of sheets thereon, ashereinbefore described.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured at 32! to the outer surface of rackbar 32 of the carriage supporting the fingers 26 of main elevator 25 isa control member in the form of a block 322 (Figs. 1a and 3a). Thiscontrol block 322 is also adapted to engage the roller 3I3 on trip lever399 and swing the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1a,to again actuate rod 302 at a time when the pile supporting fingers 25of main elevator 25 are advanced from retracted position into pilesupporting position at the lowermost position of said elevator, as alsowill be hereinafter explained more in detail in connection with thedescription of the operations of the main and auxiliary elevators 25 andI21, respectively. It might be mentioned at this time that thisactuation of rod 302 causes the arm 33!; thereon to release latch 233from push rod 253 and effect rapid raising of main elevator 25, ashereinbefore described.

The operations of rod 392 by trip lever 309 under the control of themain elevator 25 and the control members 3l5 and 322 thereon having beendescribed, the mechanism for effecting and controlling the rotation ofcam shaft 206 and cams 295, 251, and 233 thereon at certain intervalswill now be described.

Fixed on cam shaft 289 is a sprocket 323 (Figs. 1a, 2a, and 4) aroundwhich passes a chain 324 that extends towards the rear of the feeder andpasses around a smaller sprocket 325 (Fig. 8). The lower reach of chain324 passes over an idler chain tightening sprocket 326 (Figs. la and 2a)journalled on an arm 32W which is adjustably secured on a pin 328. i helatter is fixed in a bracket 329 bolted to base plate ll. Sprockets 323and 325 are so proportioned to have a ratio of 2:1, 1. e., onerevolution of sprocket 323 to two revolutions of sprocket 325, orone-half of a revolution of sprocket 323 to one revolution of sprocket325.

Sprocket 325 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a disk 339(Figs. 2 and 8) which is provided on its periphery with a single tooth33!. Disk 339 forms a part of a friction slip-clutch 332 that is mountedon the shaft 56 which, as hereinbefore described, is rotatedcontinuously in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) by the chain 5! andsprocket 52. Clutch 332 is the same in construction as the clutch 62 onshaft 59, and comprises a cup-shaped member 333 loosely mounted on shaft56 and having the disk 339 secured thereto or formed as an integral partthereof. Disposed within clutch member 333 and suitably connected withshaft 56 for rotation thereby and axial movement relative thereto is aseries of metal disks 333 which, through the medium of axially movableleather disks 335, frictionally drive similar axially movable metaldisks 333 that are suitably connected with said clutch member. Disks334, 335, and 333 are retained in frictional driving contact with eachother by a coil compression spring 331 surrounding shaft 55 and havingone end engaging a collar 338 secured to said shaft and the opposite endengaging the outermost driving disk 334. A collar 339 secured to shaft56 between the sprockets 32 and 325 holds clutch member 333 againstaxial displacement on said shaft. It will thus appear that cam shaft 293is rotated by the continuously driven shaft 56 through the gezcribedconnections including the slip-clutch The tooth 33! on disk 339 isnormally engaged by the upper hooked end of a latch 348 (Figs. 2 and 8)to normally hold cam shaft 235 stationary with the cams 2E5, 251, and283 thereon in their normal full line positions shown in Figs. 2a, 3,and 5a. Engagement of latch 349 with disk 339 holds sprocket 325 againstrotation by shaft 56, but this does not affect the operation of shafts23, 53, and 59 due to the slip-clutch connection 332 between saidsprocket and shaft 56. Latch 340 is pivotally mounted at 3M on a bracket342 bolted to base plate H, and is yieldingly urged towards disk 330 bya spring-pressed plunger 343 disposed within a container 3454 secured tosaid bracket. Plunger 343 projects from container 34-!- through asuitable opening, in bracket 34.2 intoengagement with latch 340. Thespring for plunger 343 is indicated at 34.5. and surrounds said plungerbetween a flange thereon and; container 344. Bracket 34:2 has portionsthereof removed to provide clearance for the lower reach of chain 324-.

Pivotally: connected at 3&5 with latch 540 is one end of a link 3d? the:opposite end, of which is pivotally connected at 348 with the movablecore 34% of a solenoid 3.59 (Figs. 2 and 8).. When solenoid 359; isenergized, as. hereinafter described, core 3% will be drawn forwardly ortoward the right (Fig. 2) and, hence, latch, 349 through the describedconnections therefor with said. core will be,- swung about its. pivot34.! out of engagement with the tooth 33.! on disk 330 whereupon thelatter and sprocket 325 will be released to. efiect rotation of, camshaft 295 in the direction of the arrow indicated in. Fig. 2a, Whensolenoid see isde-energized which occurs immediately after disk 3-33 isreleased, as. aforesaid, core 349 and latch 3st will be returned totheir original positions. by plunge-r 343 so. that said; latch will bedisposed in the path of rotation of the tooth 33:! on disk 3-30 toengage said tooth and stop said disk and sprocket 325 after onecompleterevolution thereof resulting in stopping of the cam shaft. 20%;. afteritv has. made one-half of a revolution.

Bolted to the base plate I? in close proximity to crank diskv 12 is anormally open electrical switch 35! (Figs. 1 and 8) of a well-knowndesign and comprising a box 352 provided therein with a pair oflaterally spaced stationary con.- tacts. 3513, one only being shown, anda movable contact 354 which bridges or closes the circuit between. saidpair of. spaced contacts. The movable contact 35 is carried by a pin 355which is iournalled inv box 552- and projects outwardly therefrom.Secured to the outwardly projecting end of pin- 355- is anoverbalancedarm 356 having: journalled thereon a roller 351 which rides against theperiphery of crank disk '52. Arm 355 tends to swing in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in- Eig. 1, under the weightthereof and thus maintains roller 351 in engagement with the peripheryof crank disk i2, and holds contact 354 out of engagement with contacts353. One of the stationary contacts 353 and solenoid 359 have connectedtherewith lead wires 558 and, 559, respectively, which are connectedwith a suitable source of electrical current. The other stationarycontact 353- and solenoid tea are connected together by a lead wire 335so that when contact iii iv is loweredv into engagement with both of thespaced stationary contacts the electrical circuit tosolenoid 359 will:be completed.

Crank disk '52 is provided on its periphery with an abbreviated cam {idlwhich may be formed integrally with said disk but, as herein shown, is:in, the form of a block bolted orotherwise suitaoly secured thereto. Cam361- is adapted to engage roller; 357i and operate switch arm 355 uponrotation of crank disk 12 in the direction of the; arrow indicated inFig. 1, said cam being so located on saiddisk in advance of the. crankpin it that said, operation. of switch arm 355. will occur just prior tocompletion of one-half of a revolution of crank disk 72'.

It will thus appear that; when crank. disk '52 is rotated one-half of arevolution in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1-) to move crank. pin'33 from, the full line position to. the broken line position thereof,shown in said. figure and there.- by efiect retraction of the pilesupporting fingers 2.6- of main elevator 25. from pile supportingposition, as hereinbefore described, cam 35! will engage roller 35?, fora short interval and move switch arm 355.. downwardly, and then moveslightly beyond said roller and release the latter and. arm 356' justbefore the crank disk 12 is stopped and the fingers 26. are fullyretracted. Under these conditions, the switch contact 354 is lowered byarm 355. into engagement with the stationary contacts 3.5.3 to completethe electrical circuit to solenoid 35!} through lead wire 368, and thenraised by said arm, out of engagement with said stationary contacts tobreak the electrical circuit to said; solenoid. Hence, so.- lenoid 350;will. be. energized long enough to effect disengagement of latch 34.0from the tooth 33! on disk. 33!] and release sprocket 325, for rotationby shaft 56, and then ole-energized to permit said latch to ret rn toits original position and re-engage said tooth after one completerevolution of disk 33.0. v

Thus, as. the pile supporting fingers 2.6 approach their rearmostretracted position, switch 35!- is closed by cam 35!, whereupon camshaft 265 is rotated one-half of a. revolution in the direction of thearrow, indicated in Figs. 2a, 5, and 5a, to move cams. 20.5., 251, and283. from their full line. positions to their broken linepositionsshown. in said figures and thereby effect lowering of mainelevator 25 with the fingers 26 thereof in retracted position, holdingof auxiliary elevator I21 with. thenew pile of sheets thereon, togetherwith the, remainder of a preceding pile, in, raised position, andtransfer of the intermittent or step by step operation under the controlof the pile governor 224 from the main. elevator 25, to. the auxiliaryelevator I21, as hereinbefore described and will be further explained,hereinafter in connection with, the description of the operations ofmain elevator and auxiliary elevator 25 and I21, respectively.

It will be understood. that other ways and mean may be employed inconnection with the retractible pile supporting fingers 26 or any partofthe operating; mechanism therefor for effecting disengagement of latch34!) from disk 339 and rotation. of cam shaft 286 upon retraction ofsaid fingers.

Carried by and movable with auxiliary elevator 121. is, a double-armedtrip lever 562, one arm 36,3, of which is inclined downwardly andrearwardly, and the other arm, 364 of which is inclined upwardly andrearwardly and also. offset laterally from arm 363. (Figs. 1a and3a.)... Lever 55.2 is pivotally mounted on a. stud 355 which projectsthrough; a vertical slot 3% formed in the vertical bar H28 of auxiliaryelevator !2!.- at the end thereof facing the feeder side frame. member!-5. Slot 356 provides for vertical adjustment of lever 352 relative toelevator bar I28, said lever being secured in adjusted positions; onsaid bar by a nut 357 threaded. on stud 355. Arms 353., 3540f lever 3&2are of the same length and inclination and each have journalled thereon.at the free ends. thereof rollers 3,686 and 359 respectively. Threadedinto elevator bar L25 is an adjustable screw or stop member 3,"!!! whichis engaged by lever 352 and: holds the latter against pivotal downwardmovement about stud- 565 and in; a position. such that the rollers 3.53,3.59: are. normally disposed in. the same vertical plane, as shown inFig. 1a.

Roller 368 on. trip. arm 363 is engaged with

